WILSON LOOKS TO ULSTER FOR MORE BRC ACTION

Cumbrian’s comeback could take in Tarmac event Photos: Jakob Ebrey, SMJ Photography, Kevin Glendinning

Matthew Wilson is targeting a second British championship outing on the Ulster Rally next month, providing he’s not called on to test M-sport’s newgeneration World Rally Car.

Wilson finished second to Fredrik Ahlin on the Pirelli Carlisle Rally in May to end an 11-year absence from his domestic series. He was a regular in the WRC from 2006 to 2011 before stepping down from full time driving to develop the Ford Fiesta R5 and help manage the Bentley GT programme, run by his father Malcolm’s M-sport organisation.

“I’m trying to do it [Ulster],” said Wilson. “At the minute we’re looking to get the 2017 car running as soon as we can. As soon as that calendar is fully confirmed, I’ll probably be doing a lot of the initial driving. So as long as everything fits around that – obviously that’s the priority – I’d love to try and do it for sure.”

Wilson’s BRC return earlier this year was all the more impressive due to the lack of a test beforehand because the car he drove had been used by Elfyn Evans on Rally Argentina the previous week.

The Cumbrian has always favoured the Northern Irish event and hopes he would be on the pace should he compete.

“Tarmac is one thing I’ve done a lot less of,” added Wilson. “It would maybe just take that little bit longer to get back into it, but you never know. It surprised me on the Pirelli how quickly it came back.”

The 29-year-old has started the Ulster twice, finishing sixth on both occasions in 2004 and 2005.